Thread: Triple milled vs glycerine based?

Hi guys,

I just asked this question in another thread but didn't get any answer so i'll try again

1. What does triple milled soap mean?
2. What is the difference between triple milled and glycerine based soap?
3. How do I know if a soap is one or the other?

Thanks!

I don't know the technical terms but triple milled is basically soap made from traditional ingredients. Glycerin soap is mostly glycerin based and milled soap contains some glycerin also. Personally I've never found a glycerin based soap that held a candle to a good English Triple Milled Soap. I'm not saying a glycerin soap is bad mind you. They get the job done but in my experience the scents are overdone and chemical smelling and the lather is relatively weak and I've tried many but of course I haven't tried them all.

I am certain many others will post raving about their favorite glycerin based soap.

Glycerine soaps are simpler to make by what I think is called a "cold pour" process, and usually from artisan vendors. They often have very strong scents, but are often less cushioning than triple milleds. Examples: QED, Mama Bear, HBS, TGQ, SCS. Col Conk iand VDH are big manufacturer glycerine soaps.

Triple-milled are what you usually buy from big manufactureres, like C&E, GFT, TOBS, T&H, etc. Not sure what the triple milling is, but I have a feeling they do it three times.

French Milled or triple milled soaps


Is a commercial process where soap (typically made from synthetic detergents) is made, dried into crystals then rolled three or more times through steel rollers. This repeated milling crushes the crystals turning them into a fine paste. This paste is then pressed and formed into bars. Removing glycerin from the soap is necessary to keep the soap from being too sticky and adhering to the rollers. French/Triple milled soap means that all soap bars will be identical with no variations in color and texture. True milled soap is impossible to do if you are not a commercial manufacturer with the steel rollers.


I just found that ....So take it with a grain of salt


and if you want to read a whole lot http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soap

I see so it is only the making process that is different plus that they might have different features. I have tried both T&H (i guess 3x milled) and TGQ (glycerine)..to be honest I didn't notice any significant difference between the two, TGQ may even preform better than T&H but I don't know, I'm not an expert in this field as is apparent.

Have any of you noticed any difference? We got thebigspendur in favor of 3x milled..hmm maybe I should make this a poll?!

to grossly overgeneralize, I think tripple mills are more protective and often more slick, glycerine has sharper scents and can give a closer shave but you have to be careful. I love em all.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

French Milled or triple milled soaps


Is a commercial process where soap (typically made from synthetic detergents) is made, dried into crystals then rolled three or more times through steel rollers. This repeated milling crushes the crystals turning them into a fine paste. This paste is then pressed and formed into bars. Removing glycerin from the soap is necessary to keep the soap from being too sticky and adhering to the rollers. French/Triple milled soap means that all soap bars will be identical with no variations in color and texture. True milled soap is impossible to do if you are not a commercial manufacturer with the steel rollers.

I've read this and I don't think it applies to commercial shave soap making. I think this refers to soaps like Dial and Ivory and others. They sell the glycerin to lotion manufacturers mostly.

Shaving soap is a different animal.

I make soap and any soap made using lye and animal fat or vegetable oils naturally contains glycerin as it forms when the lye and fats combine and change into soap in a process called saponification.

When I learned to make soap "milling" meant one took soap that finished the saponification process and you used a grater to shred it. Then re-melt it into liquid and repeat. Normally the process is repeated one to three times.

The advantage to the extra work is: (A) you can add your essential oils or perfumes during the melting process and thus avoid the lye breaking them down. (B) it makes the soap harder and last longer.

Glycerin soaps have come to imply soaps that haven't been milled and triple milled as come to mean soaps that are harder and longer lasting. There are people who prefer both.

To make shaving soap you do either process and add a small amount of a finely powdered clay to the mix (either bentonite or kaolin clay are commonly used). The finely powdered clay helps the razor to glide across the skin. But both types contain the same amount of glycerin.

If they didn't have these differences there would be no reason to use them over canned shaving creams or just a regular bar of Dial soap.

I hope this answers your question.

Very close but still no cigar.

"I've read this and I don't think it applies to commercial shave soap making. I think this refers to soaps like Dial and Ivory and others. They sell the glycerin to lotion manufacturers mostly."

The general methods of soapmaking can be applied to any kind of soap. However, in the manufacture of shaving soaps it is helpful to leave at least some glycerin as it serves as skin conditioner.

"Shaving soap is a different animal."

This is 100% true but for different reasons.

"I make soap and any soap made using lye and animal fat or vegetable oils naturally contains glycerin as it forms when the lye and fats combine and change into soap in a process called saponification."

Yes, when a triglyceride reacts with a strong base, 3 molecules of "soap" and 1 molecule of glycerin are produced. This is the general formula of the saponification reaction that you correctly mentioned. You do not need to use lye to make soap though but it makes sense to do that because it is cheap.

"When I learned to make soap "milling" meant one took soap that finished the saponification process and you used a grater to shred it. Then re-melt it into liquid and repeat. Normally the process is repeated one to three times."

Milling in the strict sense of the word means what Glen said but this can be done by taking the already cured soap if you are using the cold process and grating it, as you said, to refine it. The main reasons to "mill" the soap is to make it more refined and to get rid of impurities.

"The advantage to the extra work is: (A) you can add your essential oils or perfumes during the melting process and thus avoid the lye breaking them down. (B) it makes the soap harder and last longer."

As I said, the main reason for milling a soap is to remove impurities. Thus, making it harder and longer lasting. You can prevent your essential oils from reacting with the "lye", this is those that would react with the "lye" anyway, by adding them after trace is observed if you are using the cold process or directly after the saponification is completed if you are using the hot process. Many fragrances commonly added to soap do not react with the "lye". It makes sense to add fragrances during the milling stage, which is the final stage in soap production, because you would not lose them during purification.

"Glycerin soaps have come to imply soaps that haven't been milled and triple milled as come to mean soaps that are harder and longer lasting. There are people who prefer both."

Although you are correct in saying that glycerin soaps are not milled and that soaps produced by saponification are in essence glycerin soaps, people commonly refer to glycerin based soaps to those

that have an increased amount of glycerin. To get the typical appearance of a glycerin soap the crude soap is heated in alcohol until they reach a gelatinous consistency and then cooled down. There are other ways to obtain this appearance. Glycerin soaps are obtained during the purification process, which is different from milling. Impure soaps, typically do not have exceptional lathering properties. Most glycerin based soaps contain much more glycerin that what is produced during saponification.

"To make shaving soap you do either process and add a small amount of a finely powdered clay to the mix (either bentonite or kaolin clay are commonly used). The finely powdered clay helps the razor to glide across the skin. But both types contain the same amount of glycerin."

Not true, the amount of glycerin can be altered during purification, and as I said, it is frequently increased in the glycerin soap. It is also not true that shaving soap requires addition of clays. In fact, most high end shaving soaps do not contain clays in their formulation, although some do.

"If they didn't have these differences there would be no reason to use them over canned shaving creams or just a regular bar of Dial soap."

Canned cream is obtained by a completely different process that frequently uses uses different ingredients (including the "lye"). Shaving soap is differs from hand soap in the fats used in its manufacture (not every fat would produce a good lathering soap) more than anything else, and also because it requires that most of the impurities are removed from the crude soap. Without the right ingredients and the removal of impurities, soaps do not form lather of the desired consistency.

Al raz.

I've come to prefer the triple milled soaps over the past year or so. The lather is creamier and a little slicker, IMHO. The glycerin soaps do hold a scent better though.

Jordan

So what areyour favorite tripple milled soaps?